Goodreads asked Clark Hays:

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Clark Hays I’ll probably jinx myself, but I’ve never had writer’s block. I’ve had lots of other things that keep me from writing: crippling debt, too much beer, a great new book to read, exhaustion (for the record, exhaustion can be a tremendous source of creativity — the tired brain, and mine is always tired, makes some odd and memorable connections). But those aren’t really blocks, they are just lack of discipline.

My problem is really on the opposite end of the spectrum — writers flood. I usually have too much rattling around in my brain and I have to fight the urge to sit down with a notebook or a computer and crank away to the point I forget to feed and bathe myself.

When it’s good, when the ideas are flowing and everything in my brain firing in the same direction, it’s timeless and narcotic and dizzying, but it burns out fast. Sometimes after 5 minutes. The important thing is recognizing when the good stuff is depleted … and then not stopping. Years of deadline writing have destroyed all the romantic notions of writing I once held.

In the end, I know I’m responsible for my output and not dependent upon some muse or outside source of inspiration when it comes to the creative process.

I guess that makes me a cre-athiest.

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